Former Middlesbrough defender Christian Ziege has revealed that he wants to manage in England.

The former Germany international went into coaching after calling time on his playing career in 2011.

Ziege has been without a club since March however since parting ways with Spanish Segunda B team Atletico Baleares following spells with Borussia Monchengladbach, Armenia Bielefeld, the German junior national teams and SpVgg Unterhaching.

And the 45-year-old admits he would love to return to England as a manager having played for Boro, Liverpool and Tottenham during the height of his playing days between 1999 and 2004.

Ziege told FourFourTwo: “If I have the chance (to manage in England), definitely.

“I love everything about England. The whole family has said to me that we would like to go back one day in the future.”

Ziege scores at Sunderland

Boro signed Ziege from AC Milan where he was surplus to requirements but he left in acrimonious circumstances to go to Anfield following a fine debut campaign at the Riverside and the club was awarded compensation.

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The attacking left wing-back has reiterated that his move to the North-west for the 2000/2001 season was a mistake as he had a frosty relationship with Liverpool boss Gerard Houliier, whose side claimed a historic treble.

“I had some problems with the manager (Houllier) and I still don’t know what his problem was with me,” he said.

“He never talked to me. I realised it was a bad move because I really enjoyed my time playing for Boro.

“Liverpool were in the UEFA Cup, which we ended up winning that year. We won the FA Cup and the League Cup, and qualified for the Champions League, so it was a great season.

“However, it was the wrong decision, football-wise. I didn’t play enough.”

Ziege is sent off at Old Trafford

Just like his time on Teesside, Ziege’s stay at Anfield only lasted a single season and he realises he was better off at Boro in hindsight.

“That was the best time that I had there (at Boro in England),” Berlin-born Ziege added.

“I had a fantastic season, lots of people were recognising that I was playing well, I got called back into the German national team and the Premier League was even more than I had expected.

“Even though we were fighting to avoid relegation, I enjoyed the way we played and the way that the people were behind me.”

Ziege’s stint at Tottenham after leaving Liverpool was ruined by injury and he underwent surgery which saved his right leg from amputation.

The last seven years of his playing career were spent back in Germany with Borussia Monchengladbach, who he joined from Spurs on a free transfer.